I don’t need to see into a player’s heart to know when he’s not playing well. Anyone with any basketball knowledge could tell that LeBron was not playing with the type of focus and dedication that he typically demonstrates. When he doesn’t have that focus and determination, he goes from being one of the most potent offensive forces in the league to being just another player out on the floor. Somehow I don’t think you would be such a LeBron apologist if you thought he was “just another player out on the floor.”

It is tacitly absurd to think that any player, regardless of talent, is allowed to take nights off. It happens, and it’s not exactly a mortal sin, but when it happens you recognize it, rather than pointing to other players who also failed to step up. If LeBron was able to take the second half off of every game in which Larry Hughes stunk, he’d never have to come out of the locker room.

If LeBron James plays all-out in the second half, the Cavs win the game. Everybody knows it. His half-hearted effort in the Sixers game warrants criticism.

Finally, your pseudonym so clearly demonstrates your superior maturity. Thank you for showering us with your wisdom. (Ha ha, more sarcasm!)

Go Cavs.

Mike C.

My point is, only the naive would blame James for these losses, because he wasn’t superhuman. He wasn’t great. But he was still pretty good. Those constant double and triple teams he alone sees, don’t show up in the box score. The fact that you guys expect him to have great games every time out shows a lack of basketball intelligence. NOBODY plays with 100% intensity every game out. Not even the greatest of them all. No matter the “legend” of Mike. When James, for whatever reason (and it’s amazing how you guys have the ability to see into a player’s heart), has a more than usual passive game, the other clowns on this team need to step up. They fail at a remarkable rate.

I realize that you’re probably kids that expect the impossible out of James, but he is going to have games where he just isn’t great and he looks overly passive. These are the games where the support needs to do it’s job and assist him.

Or maybe the Sixer defense is actually pretty average, and LeBron just wasn’t working very hard in the second half.

Which seems more likely, that the Sixers made a superhuman defensive effort against LeBron that the likes of the Spurs and Pistons could only dream about, or that LeBron took the second half off? I know which way I’m leaning, but apparently anyone who would criticize LeBron James, even for one game, just doesn’t know the game of basketball.

Contract buyouts continue to count against the cap. The cap number is equal to the total amount of the buyout divided along the same general percentages established in the original contract. So if a player has a contract of 2 years and $12 Million/year left, and was bought out for $20 Million, he would count as $10 Million on the cap for each season.

There’s no reason the Sixers would trade Andre Miller for Eric Snow, Ira Newble and a draft pick. The Sixers aren’t going to give Miller away for nothing, and that package amounts to nothing. As much as I would love to see Miller come to Cleveland, the Cavs would have to give up Gooden to make it happen. And Danny Ferry is smart enough to know that the Cavs aren’t going anywhere if they lose any of their frontcourt.

Go Cavs. Tighten it up tonight.

Mike C.

PS: Hughes wasn’t any better than LeBron down the stretch. Everyone on the floor was equally awful.

Can’t wait to see the group of overpaid, complaining bums he brings in when the team starts over in two years.

I dont think there’s any way we can get rid of Larry Hughes, unless a team is dumb enough to trade for him. Maybe we can get a load of clean towels and 2 extra cheerleaders back. Of course, Ferry would hold out for more i suppose.